Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Pages 48 and 49 of the programme for Government refer to protecting local services. When Storm Ophelia struck last October, over six months ago, many phone lines were knocked down, as would be expected with any storm, but in quite a number of rural communities many customers were left without a home phone service for up to two months. The residents of Sherkin Island, off Baltimore and Skibbereen in west Cork, have had no home telephone service since last October. Up to 100 residents live on the island and this has led to a loss of business. Many elderly people have been left without any connection to keep them safe in their homes, and these customers still had no connection as of yesterday evening. Can Eir be asked to explain how it can leave customers for over six months without a telephone connection and still can bill them?

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